Dispenser for straws and other articles.



N. P. DAZEY. DISPENSER FOR STRAWS AND OTHER ARTICLES; APPLIQATION'IILBD JUNE 9, 1910.

1,010, 1 21 Patented Npv.28, 1911.

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N. P. DAZEY. DISPENSER FOR STRAWS AND OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1910.

v Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. g

NATHAN P. DAZEY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

DISPENSER FOR STRAWS AND OTHER ARTICLES.

- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented. N 28, 1911,

Application filed June 9, 1910. Serial No. 566,072.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN P. DAZEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dispensers for Straws and other Articles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to a holding and dispensing device more particularly intended for use in holding and dispensing straws commonly used at soda water fountains and other places where drinks are served and are intended to be drawn into the mouth by the use of straws.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of this kind into which straws may be placed to be kept in a sanitary condition and to be dispensed singly when they are to be used.

Figure I is a front elevation of my holder and dispenser, part of one end of the device being shown in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. II is in part an enlarged end elevation and in part a vertical cross section taken through one of the end plates or end frames. Fig. III is an enlarged vertical cross section through the barrel of my device, with the operating mechanism present at the opposite end of the device from that shown in Fig. II in elevation, the joggling or agitator disk at this end being removed. Fig. IV is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of portions of my device adjacent the discharge opening and showing the closure for said opening and operative connections for the same. Fig. V is a fragmentary section illustrating the manner in which tllie straws are discharged from the receptac e.

Referring more'particu'larly to the drawings, a receptacle 1 for holding the articles to be dispensed is in the present exemplification provided in the form of a cylindrical barrel provided at its top wit-h an inlet opening 2 through which in the present instance, straws may be'introduced into the barrel. Said barrel is preferably provided with two downwardly discharging outlet openings 3 and 4 disposed above the bottom of the receptacle.

5 and 6 are the end plates or'frames between which the barrel lis held and supported, said end plates being respectively provided at their inner faces with segmental flanges 5 and 6 into which the fastening means for holding the barrel to the end plates, such as screws, are inserted and pass through the barrel where it is fitted around such flanges.

7 designates a rock shaft extending longitudinally through the barrel 1 and the ends of which are rotatably mounted inthe end plates 5 and 6. This rock shaft serves as a support for the means by which the straws are discharged through an exit-way .of the barrel 1, and I will first in the following description set forth the parts as they are utilized to discharge straws through the discharge opening 3. This ejector device comprises hangers or arms 8 and 8 located respectively near the end plate 6 and the end plate 5 and held to the rock shaft by suitable means, such as set screws 10, and the ejector device also comprises a bar 11 supported by the hangers and which preferably includes a fin 12 that is adapted to travel in an arc of a circle in close proximity to the bottom of the barrel 1 when the ejector device is swung to and fro. Fin 12, extending centrally downward from the upper flange of the ejector 11, constitutes a recess on each side of the ejector 11 of suflicient depth to receive and trap a straw, upon movement of the ejector.

9 and 9 are lever arms that receive connections by which the rock shaft 7 is ro tated and the ejector device is swung to and fro. These lever arms may be made either integral with the hangers of the ejector device or separate therefrom and attached to either the hangers or the rock shaft. The

.lever arm 9, which is at one end of my straw holder at or adjacent to the hanger 8 has pivotally connected to it a link 13. I

14 is a stub shaft rotatably mounted in the end plate 6 and which has fixed to it at its inner end a lever arm 15, that is pivotally connected at 16 to the link 13.

17 is an operating lever by which rotation is imparted to the stub shaft 14 and which is fixed to saidv stub shaft at its outer end and is provided with a finger button In the actuation of the ejector device to move the ejector bar 11 toward the exit-way 3, the operating lever 17 is depressed and imparts rotation to the stub shaft 14 whereby upward movement is imparted to the lever arm- 15 located interiorly of the straw holder and the link 13 is actuated to impart movement to the lever arm 9, with the result of moving the hanger 8 in an arc of a circle. Inasmuch as the hanger 8 is fixed to the rock shaft 7, said rock shaft is rotated and the hanger 8 at the opposite end of the holder is caused to partake of the same movement as the hanger 8 and the ejector bar 11 is moved in a direction corres 'mnding to that of the hangers; that is to say, in a direction toward the discharge opening 3. Upon the release of pressure upon the operating lever 17, the ejector device is returned to its normal position through the medium of retracting members, (see Fig. II), comprising an arm 19, extending rearwardly from the hanger 8 relative to the operating lever 17, a retracting spring 20 connected to said arm, and a spring receiving member 21 that is supported by an adjustment screw 22 mounted in the flange (3 of the end plate 6, and which is adapted to be adjusted to move the member 21 thereon to vary the tension in the retracting spring 20, in order that it will act properly upon the ejector members to return them to their normal positions after the ejector bar 11 has been moved toward the exit-way 3.

23 designates a gate that controls the exit-way 3. This gate extends longitudinally of said exit-way and its free edge, which faces the ejector bar 11, is provided with a pocket 24. The gate is mounted at its forward edge upon a rock shaft 25 journaled in the end plates 5 and 6 and has fixed to it, adjacent to the end plate 6, a crank arm 26, (see Figs. III to V, inclusive.) The crank arm 26 is, as will be observed, at the end of the straw holder opposite. that at which the previously described ejector device operating members are located.

27 is a gate operating rod that is pivoted at its lower end to the crank arm 26 and is operable in an eye or guide 28 supported by the flange of the end plate 5. This rod is provided, (as most clearly seen in Fig. IV,) with an abutment 29, between which and the guide 28 is a spring 30 that serves to impart a downward movement to the gate operating rod after it has been actuated in the manner to be presently explained.

31 is a lift finger carried by the hanger 8 of the ejector device and the free end of which is adapted to travel alongside of the gate operating rod 27 when the ejector device is swung forwardly to carry the ejector bar 11 toward he discharge out-let 8. As said ejector bar approaches said discharge opening, the lift finger 31 rises into engagement with the abutment 29 and by upward pressure thereagainst acts to elevate the pull rod 27 with the result of imparting rotation to the rock shaft 2-5 whereby the gate 23 is elevated from the position seen in Figs. III and IV to the position seen in Fig. V, in order that the ejector bar 11 may discharge a straw through the discharge opening 3. The actuation of the gate in the manner stated is accomplished upon the operation of the ejector device through the medium of the operating lever 17, as hereinbefore described, and when said lever is released and the ejector device returns to its normal position, the spring 30 acts to return the gate 23 to a closed position. In this connection, it should be stated that the actuation of the ejector bar 11 and the gate 23 are so timed relative to each other as to provide for the gate being opened just previous to the ejector bar being brought into close proximity with the rear free edge of the gate so that only a single straw located in front of the fin 12 of the ejector bar will be delivered to the discharge opening, as indicated in dotted lines Fig. V, while any straws above the ejector bar will either rest thereon, or be carried over into the pocket 2%. of the gate to remain in such positions pending the closing of the gate when the ejector bar returns to its normal position. As the ejector 11 moves toward either of the discharge openings, a number of straws will be pushed ahead of it up the incline of the sloping bottom. If the receptacle is well filled, there will be, say, some six or seven straws on the bottom of the receptacle between the ejector and each of the gates 23 before movement of the ejector, with, of course, a great many more straws above; As the ejector moves toward one of the openings, the bottom straws are shoved along. one of them occupying the recess on that side of the ejector facing the opening toward which the ejector is being moved. As the line of straws strikes the gate 23 prior to its opening, the 23 being provided with an inclined surface, as shown clearly in the drawings, the forward bottom straws will ride up such incline and over the gate. The operation of the gate, as already stated, is so timed with the movement of the ejector bar 11 as to raise or open when the ejector bar 11 comes in close proximity thereto; or when the fin 12 is distant from the free edge of the gate 23 a distance equal substantially to the diameter of one straw. At this moment, the gate 28 rises, and its pocket 2 1 engages the straw next adjacent the straw within the recess in the ejector. The gate 23 rises to an extent sufficient to open the passage between the discharge opening or outlet 3 and the ejector 11, or recess therein, as shown clearly in Fig. V, whereby the one straw trapped in the forward recess of the ejector is allowed to roll down the incline of the exit-way. As the ejector 11 recedes, the gate 23, under action of its operating rod, and the spring 30, acts in closing, quickly enough to prevent the escape of additional straws. As the ejector returns to its normal central position, the mass of straws ride over the same. This is an important feature, inasmuch as regardless of which side of the machine is operated to the greatest extent, the ejector, in moving to and fro, distributes the straws on each side of it by passing under them.

Mention has hereinbefore been made of the fact that my straw holder and dispenser is provided with two discharge openings or outlets and in the preceding description I have in the main referred tothe straw dispensing parts only in sofar as they are concerned in the discharge of straws through the discharge outlet 3. The object in having a second discharge opening 4 is to provide for the straws being discharged at the side of the straw holder opposite that containing the discharge outlet 3 or what, in view of the previous description, might be properly termed the back of the straw holder, and the pro-vision of means that permits of the dispensing device being operated at either of its ends. Inasmuch as the discharge outlet at is located opposite to the discharge outlet 3, it will be noted that to discharge straws through the discharge outlet at it is only necessary to operate the ejector device in a direction the reverse of the direction in which itis moved to discharge straws through the discharge outlet 3, and that consequently the ejector device operating members, similar to those previously described, but disposed reversely relative to the first described, will provide for the desired dispensing of straws through the discharge outlet 4. The lever arm 9 at the end of the straw holder at which the hanger -8is located therefore has connected to it a. link 13 to which is pivoted at 16 a lever arm 15, fixed to a stub shaft 14, loosely mounted in the end plate 5. This stub shaft is operated by an operating lever 17 having a finger button 18. It will be noted that the parts just set forth being located at the opposite end of the straw holder from that at which the operating lever and its companion parts are located, when the operating lever 17 is depressed, the ejector device, including the ejector bar 11, will be moved toward the outlet opening 4L. The gate 23 that controls the discharge outlet 1 is operated similarly to the gate 23 that controls the discharge outlet 3; that is to say, it is supported by a rock shaft 25 provided with a crank arm 26 to which is connected a pull rod 27, the pull rod being provided with an abutment 29 and surrounded by a spring 30'.

31 is a lift finger carried by the hanger Sof the ejector device, and through the medium of which the pull rod 27 is actuated, due to the engagement of said finger with the abutment 29. The pull rod 27 serves to actuate the gate 23 in the same manner-as the gate 23 is operated upon the lift finger 31 being brought into engagement with the abutment 29 when the eject-or bar 11 is moved to the gate 23, and with the result of a straw being discharged through the discharge outlet 1.

32 designates agitator disks attached to the hangers 8 and 8, these disks being located at the ends of the chamber in which the straws are present when the holder acts against the ends of the straws and keep them stirred: up in such manner so as to provide for their assuming parallel positions in the chamber at its bottom to be in proper positions to be engaged by the fin 12 of the agitator bar 11.

lVhile I have described my holder and dispenser as intended more particularly for use in holding and dispensing straws, it is obvious that it may be utilized for dispensing other articles, and I therefore do not limit myself to its use for dispensing any particular article.

I claim 1. In a device of the character described. the combination with a receptacle provided with a discharge outlet, of an inwardly opening gate normally barring the passageway through said outlet, an ejector movable to and from said outlet, said ejector being provided with a recess for containing but a single article, and gate opening means adapted to hold the gate in an open position with edges abutting said ejector above said recess whereby said recess is placed in open communication with the exterior of said receptacle through said discharge outlet.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a receptacle provided with a discharge outlet, of a gate-normally barring the passageway through said outlet, an ejector movable to and from said outlet, said ejector being provided with a recess for holding only a single article to be dispensed, and gate opening means operable only when said ejector is brought into proximity to said opening, said gate being adapted in open position to form abridge between the wall of said receptacle and said ejector above said recess whereby said recess is placed in open communication outwardly through said discharge outlet.

3. In a straw holder, the combination with a cylindrical receptacle wit-h its axis horizontal, said receptacle being provided with a discharge outlet above the bottom thereof and extending longitudinally of the cylindrical wall thereof, a gate movable about an axis adjacent the upper edge of 1 said outlet and normally barring said outlet, an oscillating ejector having its outer end swinging along the cylindrical wall to and from said out-let and having a straw holding recess adjacent said outer end, and means operably related to said ejector for swinging said gate inwardly when said ejector is brought into proximity to sald outlet, said means being adapted to raise said gate into a position to bridge said discharge outlet and to provide an abutment for said ejector, the swinging edge of said gate being in this position in contact with said ejector above the recess in its outer end to permit the ejectment of the straw in said recess.

a. In a straw dispenser, the combination with a cylindrical housing disposed with its axis horizontal, said housing being provided with a longitudinal discharge outlet, an ejector normally distant from said outlet, said ejector being provided with a straw holding recess parallel to said outlet, means for moving said ejector into and out of a position in which said recess is in proximity to the lower edge of said outlet, a gate hinged on an axis adjacent the upper edge of said outlet, and means for swinging said gate into open position when the ejector is in proximity to said discharge outlet, said gate forming a bridge between the upper edge of said outlet and said ejector at a point immediately above said recess.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a receptacle having a curved inner wall and a discharge opening above the bottom of said receptacle, a closure for said opening movably related to said opening, an ejector movable toward and away from said opening, means for resiliently holding said closure in closed position, and means carried by said ejector into and out of operative engagement with said holding means.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a cylindrical receptacle for articles to be dispensed provided with spaced longitudinal discharge openings, an ejector mounted to swing to and fro between said openings, a closure for each of said openings, means for resiliently holding said closures in closed position, and means carried by said ejector for operatively engaging said holding means.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a receptacle provided with spaced longitudinal discharge open ings, with an ejector mounted to swing to and fro between said openings, a closure for each of said openings, means for resiliently holding said closures in closed position, and means carried by said ejector for operatively engaging said holding means.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a cylindrical receptacle for articles to be dispensed, disposed with its axis horizontal and having longitudinal discharge openings on opposite sides of the vertical plane through said axis, an ejector mounted to swing about said axis between said discharge openings, an operating lever, and means operatively connecting said lever to said ejector, said means being adapted to produce a greater angular movement of the ejector than is undergone by said operating lever.

9. In a holder and dispenser, a barrel having an exit-way, a gate controlling said exitway, an ejector device oscillatorily mounted in said barrel and comprising an ejector bar having a fin at its lower edge, and means for opening said gate upon the approach of said ejector bar to the gate; and said gate being provided at its free edge with a pocketadapted to coincide with said ejector bar when the ejector bar is brought into proximity with the gate.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a receptacle for straws to be dispensed, said receptacle being provided with a longitudinal opening, a closure for said opening, and an ejector for the straws, and means operatively connecting said closure to the ejector, said ejector being provided with arecessed portion cooperating with the closure in open position to close said opening against all but one straw.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with a receptacle provided with a discharge opening above the bottom of said receptacle, an inwardly-opening closure for said opening, said closure being provided with a rounded inwardly turned nose, an ejector movable toward and away from said closure, said ejector being provided with a recessed portion cooperating with the closure in open position to close said opening, and means operatively connecting the closure to said ejector.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with a receptacle having a suitable discharge opening and end plates, of an operating shaft extending longitudinally through said receptacle, movable joggling plates mounted within said receptacle near each end of said shaft, an ejector bar located in the bottom of said receptacle, arms supporting said bar at its ends and located between said plates and the end plates of the receptacle, and means for operating said shaft.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination with a receptacle having a suitable discharge opening and end plates, of an operating shaft extending longitudinally through said receptacle, movable joggling plates mounted within said receptacle near each end of said shaft, an ejector bar passing through said joggling plates and located in the bottom of said receptacle,

arm's supporting said bar at its ends and located between said plates and the end plates of the receptacle, and means for operating said shaft.

14c. A holder and dispenser comprising a barrel having end plates and a longitudinal exit way, an ejector device Consisting of a longitudinal rock-shaft, hangers fixed to the rock-shaft, and a bar carried by the hangers, an arm extending from the ejector device, an adjustment screw, a receiving member carried by the adjustment screw, a spring connecting the arm with the receiving member, and means for operating the rock-shaft.

15. A holder and dispenser comprising a barrel having end plates and a longitudinal exit way, an ejector device having a lift finger, a gate controlling the exit way con sisting of a longitudinal rock-shaft, a crankarm fixed to the rock-shaft, a gate operating spring rod pivoted at its lower end to the crank-arm, and having an abutment engaged by the lift finger.

- NATHAN P. DAZEY. In the presence of- EDNA B. LINN,

A. J. MOCAULEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. D. C, 

